Solan
PRODUCTION FACILITY
Facility Name Solan Platform Duty Oil/Gas
Operator Premier Oil Current Status Prospect since 2011
Host Type Fixed Platform Water Depth 135 m / 446 ft
Dev.Cost n/a Region UK
 
Location P164, 205/26a
 
OIL & GAS FIELD
Field Name Solan Discovery Date Jan 1991
Block P.164, 205/26a Reserve Type Oil
Current
Status		 Under Development Production Start
Water Depth 135 m / 446 ft
 
 
Description
 
The Solan field is located in Block 205/26a in the UK sector of the North Sea in a water depth of 443 feet (135 meters). Premier operates the block with a 60 percent stake; while Chrysaor holds the remaining interest.

Block 205/26a was initially awarded during the 4th Licensing Round by the DECC in 1971 to 1972. Solan was discovered in 1991 by the drilling of well 205/26a-4, and then further appraised in 2008 and 2009.

The results from the wells were very encouraging and in May 2009 Chrysaor embarked upon a further appraisal drilling program to investigate additional reservoir volumes and enable a firm field development plan to be completed. Further horizontal appraisal well legs 205/26a-8,8z and 8y were subsequently drilled to more fully delineate the Solan reservoir, including a full pilot hole for the first producing well. When all data had been gathered the well was also suspended for re-use as top-hole in an eventual development well.

Field Development

The field development will compromise a horizontal production well incorporating dual electric submersible pumps and a subsea horizontal water injection well to provide additional pressure support. The field will be further developed by two or three wells, depending on reservoir performance.

The producer well will be a re-entry and sidetrack of the previously drilled 205/26a-8/8z/8y appraisal well whereas the injection well will be a re-entry and sidetrack of the previously drilled 205/26a-7/7z appraisal well.

The wells will be tied-back to a fixed platform compromising a steel tower and deck and a subsea storage tank, with a 300,000 barrel storage capacity. Oil export will be via a shuttle tanker with an offload occurring every few weeks.

Initial production rates are anticipated to be 12 to 15,000 bopd with the initial injection rate being 20,000 bopd.

Solan, with an estimated field life of 20 years, is expected to come online in 2014.
 
Activities
 
Aker Solutions Awarded Solan Contract
Date: Apr. 2013
Type: Development Activity
Aker Solutions has been awarded a $46.1 million contract to provide hook-up, commissioning and facility management services for Premier Oil's Solan field development. Solan is located in block 205/26a west of Shetland. The project will see two subsea production and injection wells tied back to a fixed production platform. Duration of the contract will be three years from first oil with two one-year options. Production is expected to begin near the end of 2014 with an initial flow rate of 24,000 barrels per day.
Premier Awards Contract to ADIL
Date: Sep. 2012
Type: Development Activity
Premier Oil awarded a contract worth $24.3 million to Aberdeen-based energy consulting firm ADIL to provide people and systems for the execution phase of the Solan field in the UK North Sea. ADIL spent the previous two years providing similar services to the field's former operator, Chrysaor, during the development phase. The contract will conclude once the field is brought into production, currently scheduled for 4Q 2014. ADIL personnel will oversee construction of the jacket and topsides as well as a 300,000 barrel subsea storage tank. Once brought online, Solan is expected to produce 40 million barrels of oil at an initial rate of 24,000 barrels per day.
Premier Gets Govt Nod for Solan Development
Date: Apr. 2012
Type: Status Update
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has approved Premier's Field Development Plan for the Solan field in the UK sector of the North Sea. The Premier-operated Solan field is expected to produce approximately 40 million barrels of oil with an estimated initial production rate of 24,000 bopd commencing in the fourth quarter of 2014. This is a significant project which will entail the drilling of four subsea wells (two producers and two water injectors) tied-back to a processing deck supported by a jacket. It is planned that the facilities will not be permanently manned after one year of operations. Oil will be stored in a subsea tank prior to being offloaded to shuttle tankers. Premier has entered into an agreement with Awilco Drilling for the provision of the WilPhoenix (mid-water semisub) for Solan. Drilling will commence in the second quarter of 2013. It is expected that the packages for the procurement and fabrication of the topsides and jacket will be awarded shortly to Burntisland Fabricators while the contract for the installation of the jacket, topsides and subsea tank has been awarded to Heerema.
 
Status History
 
Solan Platform
Prospect - 2011 to -
Solan
Under Development - May 2011 to -
The Solan field will be developed by means of four subsea wells comprising two production and two injection wells. These wells will be tied back to jacket-supported not normally manned facilities utilizing a 300,000 bbls capacity steel subsea storage tank. Oil export will be via shuttle tanker with an offload occurring every few weeks.
Appraisal Drilling - Jun 2008 to Jul 2009
Chrysaor completed two successful appraisal wells on the previously fallow 205/26a-4 Solan discovery, 205/26a-7/7z drilled in summer 2008 and 205/26a-8/8z/8y drilled in summer 2009.
Discovery (Drilled) - 1991 to 1991
 
Project Image
Solan Fixed Platform